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2010 Defined Contribution Survey

For more than a decade, PLANSPONSOR's annual Defined Contribution Survey has been the most important industry benchmark, measuring and evaluating 401(k) and other DC providers according to feedback from their own clients. Dozens of categories are rated in service to the employer as well as participant service.

Methodology

METHODOLOGY: Between late June and late August 2010, approximately 35,000 survey questionnaires were sent to defined contribution (DC) plan sponsors from the PLANSPONSOR magazine database, as well as to client lists supplied by DC providers; 5,929 total usable responses were received by the close of the survey on September 10, 2010. In order to qualify for rating in the survey, providers needed a minimum of 35 total client responses. In order to be rated in a particular asset category, a provider needed at least 15 client responses in the micro, small, or mid asset categories, and at least 10 responses in the large or mega asset categories. Quartiles for participant services and sponsor services were calculated in each asset category in which a provider qualified for a rating.

In addition to the data published here, customized research reports are available by provider, by market segment, by industry, and by region. For more information, contact Brian O’Keefe (bokeefe@assetinternational.com).

Micro (<$5mm)Participant ServicesSponsor Services

1st Quartile

92.7%-96.4%

94.8%-98.3%

2nd Quartile

90.1%–91.7%

92.3%–94.5%

3rd Quartile

88.0%–89.9%

90.6%–92.0%

4th Quartile

79.2%–87.9%

79.7%–90.0%

Small ($5mm–$50mm)

1st Quartile

92.8%–97.8%

93.4%–98.6%

2nd Quartile

90.0%–92.2%

92.5%–93.3%

3rd Quartile

88.9%–89.5%

90.8%–92.1%

4th Quartile

86.4%–88.3%

86.4%–90.5%

Mid (>$50mm–$200mm)

1st Quartile

92.1%–93.9%

93.1%–94.4%

2nd Quartile

90.7%–91.9%

90.0%–92.0%

3rd Quartile

89.5%–90.6%

89.6%–89.8%

4th Quartile

82.5%–88.1%

86.2%–89.1%

Large (>$200mm-$1b)

1st Quartile

93.1%–94.9%

94.2%–95.5%

2nd Quartile

90.9%–92.6%

92.6%–93.5%

3rd Quartile

86.4%–89.1%

87.4%–89.2%

4th Quartile

77.7%–85.5%

83.0%–87.2%

Mega (>$1b)

1st Quartile

90.2%

89.6%

2nd Quartile

89.4%–89.7%

88.8%–89.3%

3rd Quartile

86.3%

86.6%

4th Quartile

85.4%

84.6%

Archive

DEFINED CONTRIBUTION SURVEY - Provider Ratings

For nearly two decades, PLANSPONSOR's annual Defined Contribution Survey has been the most important industry benchmark, measuring and evaluating 401(k) and other DC providers according to feedback from their own clients. Major defined contribution providers are rated in the various client categories they serve, and benchmark information is collected for plan sponsors to gauge their plans against their peers.